LQU Quilmes Ind Quinsa

LUXEMBOURG, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Quilmes Industrial (Quinsa) S.A. (NYSE:LQU) ("Quinsa" or the "Company") today announced that it has selected Inversora Cervecera, a consortium headed by Mr Ernesto Gutierrez, to acquire the Palermo, Bieckert and Imperial brands and the Lujan brewery. The sale of these assets was a requirement of the Argentine anti-trust authorities at the time the strategic alliance with AmBev was approved in 2003. The Company has submitted the transaction to the Argentine anti-trust authorities for their approval. Further details related to this transaction will be provided once the Argentine anti-trust authorities have formally approved the proposed purchaser. ABOUT QUINSA Quinsa is a Luxembourg-based holding company that controls approximately 93% of Quilmes International (Bermuda) ("QIB"). The remaining stake is held by Companhia de Bebidas das Americas - AmBev ("AmBev"). Quinsa, through QIB, controls beverage and malting businesses in five Latin American countries. Its beer brands are strong market leaders in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay, and have a presence in Chile. Further, pursuant to the Company's strategic alliance with AmBev, it has entered into license and distribution agreements to produce and sell the AmBev brands in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. Similarly, under the agreements, AmBev may produce and distribute Quinsa's brands in Brazil. The Company also has bottling and franchise agreements with PepsiCo, and thus accounts for 100% of PepsiCo beverage sales in both Argentina and Uruguay. Quinsa's Class A and Class B shares are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (Reuters codes: QUIN.LU and QUINp.LU). Quinsa's American Depositary Shares, representing the Company's B shares, are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:LQU). Quinsa's web address: http://www.quinsa.com/ Contact: Francis Cressall, Quilmes Industrial (Quinsa) S.A. +5411-4349-1846 DATASOURCE: Quilmes Industrial (Quinsa) S.A. CONTACT: Francis Cressall, Quilmes Industrial (Quinsa) S.A., +011-5411-4349-1846

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